Christine Marie (Kurtz) Allen, 67, of Cheyenne, passed at United Medical Center in Cheyenne surrounded by her loving family on May 10, 2023.
She was born on November 20, 1955, in Cheyenne, WY to Donald and D. Helene Kurtz.
Christy was employed with the phone company in Cheyenne from 1977 – 1994. Three years later she was employed by West Elementary School, in Burns, WY, to teach third grade. Then in 2003 she moved to first grade where she stayed until she retired in 2017. She absolutely loved being a teacher and loved all her students. She also had a passion for reading projects to inspire kids to read including a student favorite in which they would follow the annual Iditarod Race in Alaska.
Christy loves spending time with her loved ones, family, and friends. She enjoyed reading, crafting, and playing games with her children and grandchildren. Her love language was giving gifts and she showed that on every major holiday and any reason in between. Christy loved supporting and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s events. Including music concerts, sports, 4H and FFA shows, gymnastics and clogging, she never wanted to miss out on anything her loved ones where a part of. She also would send cards, notes, and texts of encouragement and to celebrating accomplishments. As an encourager she touched the lives of family, friends, students, and her community. She was a bright light, with a smile and laugh that would light up any room. To know Christy, was to be loved deeply by her.
Christy also had many hobbies. She enjoyed crocheting, crafting, scrapbooking, traveling, taking pictures, drives to see the fall leaves, camping, reading books, playing the piano, singing, and water aerobics. She loved to volunteer in classrooms, the library and church library to read books to children. Christy served in church as a Sunday school teacher, VBS leader, and was involved in the bell and vocal choirs. She also volunteered and delivered Friday food bags and Meals on Wheels. Christy also visited and helped a number of homebound friends. She also had an enormous passion for worship music.
Along with church Christy belonged to several clubs and organizations. She was vice president of Delta Kappa Gamma, belonged to the Retired Teachers Organization, WEA, NEA, Elementary School Grandparents program, and Telephone Pioneers of America. When the children were young, she was always involved with parent boards for PTO, Band, Choir, 4-H, Girl Scouts and Brownies, and All-City Children’s Choir.
Throughout her career as a teacher, she thrived and was honored with a number of “Teacher of the Year” awards and was a past recipient of the Golden Apple Award.
Christy is survived by her husband, David Allen, of Cheyenne; daughter, Jennifer (Doug) Schultze of Buffalo, WY; son, Joe (Rosi) Allen of Cheyenne; her grandchildren, Regan and Kimber Allen of Cheyenne, Abby and Caden Marquart and Kendra Schultze of Buffalo, WY, Christian Schultze of Fort Campbel, KY, Jon Schultze of Fort Bragg, NC, Aaron Pavlak of Kalamazoo, MI; her great-grandchildren, Lainey Atwell of Buffalo, WY and Miley, Aliann, and Jamie Schultze of Fort Bragg, NC; her brothers, Randy (Linda) Kurtz and Tom (Kathy) Kurtz; and her nieces, Amber Butler, Amy Gabor, Holly Madden, Heather Lewis, Erin McNamee and Michelle Yenglin; and her nephew, David Lindon.
She was proceeded in death by her father, Donald Eugene Kurtz; mother, D. Helene Kurtz; and her grandson, Colter Donald Allen.
Services will be held on Thursday, May 18th at 2pm at Cheyenne Hills Church. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cheyenne K9’s 4 Mobility Colter Allen Training Facility. Christy supported this fund that was set up in her grandson’s memory. Donations can be made at
www.k9s4mobility.org/donate
. As an alternative, either children’s and youth books or a donation can be made to Cheyenne Delta Kappa Gamma Retired Teacher’s Book Fund for the purchase of books bought in her name that will be donated to local school libraries. A donation box will be available at the service to either leave children’s/youth books or a check can be either mailed to the Teachers Book Fund or dropped off in the box at the service. , or call 970-219-0521 to arrange a donation in Christy’s memory.
To send the family condolences please visit
www.wrcfuneral.com